January 23, 2013, 7:46PM

01/23/2013

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Regional transportation planners Wednesday approved $12.5 million for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit to rebuild tracks as far north as Airport Boulevard and possibly add a new station there.

The funds were approved unanimously by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

The MTC allocated $750,000 to design the project and $11.7 million for construction of the track and station.

The money comes from Bay Area bridge toll revenue and was requested by state Sen. Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa.

It still leaves SMART $2.5 million short of the estimated cost.

SMART is now rebuilding track, building stations and buying rail cars, at a cost of about $360 million, to start service between Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael in late 2015 or early 2016.